Apparatus for handling a line in a derrick



' Filed Jan. 20, 1947 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 27, 1950 G UNT 2,513,095

APPARATUS FOR HANEING A LINE IN A DERRICK 3+ Fig I Zlxr 59.2. 22-.- 7/1- Attorney June 27, 1950 -r 2,513,095

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING A LINE IN A DERRICK Filed Jan. 20, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 27, 1950 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICES.

, APPARATUS FOR HANDLING A LINE IN A Q Gerald R h Hunt, Long Beach, v

ApplicationJanuary 2o, ieiisenal Nam s;

7Claims. (011549-184) This invention has to do with apparatus for handling a line in a derrick, it being a general object of the invention to provide a simple, easily handled device or apparatus for use in carrying out the method. i

The usual well drilling rig involves, generally, a derrick with a draw works on the floor thereof and a crown block at the top thereof. It is desired to operate a traveling block vertically within the derrick and for this purpose a line is strung i=5 between the crown block and the traveling block and has an active end handled by the draw works and a dead end anchored at anysuitable fixed point, usually at or near the base of the derrick. The line usually employed is a heavy steel cable that is exceedingly difficult to handle and, in practice, when a line is initially strung an excess of line is provided at the dead end so that as the active parts of the line wear the line can be progressed from the dead end to the drum where lengths of line can be removed from time to time. In practice the stringing of a line through the blocks is a difficult, time consuming operation, and it is complicated by the excess of line that occurs at the dead end, which excess line is cumbersome and diflicult to handle.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide a device applicable to the draw works of a drilling rig for handling excess line in a manner to facilitate carrying out the method that I have provided. The device that I provide is of simple, inexpensive construction and it is such that it holds the excess line in. a neatly spooled condition and can be easily and conveniently handled in and about the derrick.

Ihe various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the essential parts of a typical well drilling rig showing a drilling line strung between the crown block and the traveling block and having its dead end engagedon E being removed from the cat head of thedraw works. Fig. 6 is a view and Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 2

2 similar to Figs. 1 and 5,

showing modified constructions of the device that I'ha've provided.

-'-In'-the drawings I show a typical derrick A,

afdraw worksB mounted in the derrick, a crown block" (J-supported at the top'of the derrick, a traveling block D in. the derrick suspended from the crown block by a line L, a spool E applicable to a cat head of the draw' works, and mounting means-F for the spool;

fl' 'The derrick A illustrated in the drawings, being'fa typical oil well derrick, includes, generally, a base l0 carried ona suitable foundation I I and it includes legs I2 tied and braced by suitable members [3.

The draw works B includes, generally, a drum lcai rying the active end portion [5 of 'the line L and a 'ca't 'head It at each end. It is to be understood, of course,that the'draw works may include suitable controls "governing the action of the drum andthe cat heads. The crown block C may be of 'anysuitabIe construction and is mounted on the'to'p of the derrick so that the lines therefrom depend to'support the traveling blockD which operates over thecenter oi the v h'olebeing drilled. The other end portion of the 29 with radially projecting end flanges 2!. The

sp'ool ismade sufiiciently large in diameter to enable the lineto be wrapped thereon without unduly bendin'git, and the spool is made large enough to"accomm'odate the maximum amount of excessline desired. In accordance with my invention I provide the spool with anchoring means for releasablysecuring the end of the line portion l9to the spool. In the particular case illustrated thismea'ns involves a J-bolt 23 carried by' the' drum portion 20 of spool and operated by a nut 24 threaded on "the shank 25 of the bolt so thatthe head of the bolt clamps the line to the drum.

The mounting means F provided for mounting the spool E on a cat head It may'vary widely in form and construction. In the drawings I have shown a mounting means involving an extension of the cat head attached to the cathead by a ring 3|. The means further includes a centering plate 32 at the outer end of the spool E engageable with the extension 30 and it also includes a retainer 34 for retaining the spool on the extension 30.

The ring 3| provided for connecting the extension 30 with the cat head I6 may vary in form and construction depending upon the cat head to which it is applied. The usual cat head is provided at its oilter'end with an inclined or pitched-flange 35 in which caseI prefer to form and construct the ring 3| so that it fits or nest into the flange 35, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 i the drawings. The ring may be made secure to or on the flange of the cat head by any suitable 1 means. In the drawings I have shown welding 36 permanently joining the ring to the-cat head. The ring 3| has a threaded opening 31 concentric with the cat head and the extension 30 ha a reduced threaded end 38 threaded into the opening 31. A shoulder 39 occurs at the inner end of-the threaded part 38 and when the extension is-in place 'theshoulder engages the ring 3|.

Theextension 30- is *an elongate part projecting from the cat head concentrically therewith and it is preferably round in cross sectional configuration; In the case illustrated I have shown the extension 30 so that it is,in effect, a continuation of the shaft M]- on which the cat head is mounted and 'is about thesamesize as the shaft 40.

When the spool 'E- is in place supported by the mounting means F the inner end portion of the spool maybe supported from the cat head. In the case illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the drum 2E] ofthe spool is somewhat larger than the flange 35 at the outer end of the cat head, in which case a plurality of circumferentially spaced blocks 42 are provided in the drum at its inner end, which blocks are notched to fit over the periphery of the cat head flange 35 and to stop against the flange, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The centering plate 32is provided in the drum 20- at the outer end portion of the spool and it is preferably a simple, flat'plate secured in the drum'as by welding; The plate has a central opening 45 slidably receiving the outer or projecting end portion of the extension 33. Through thisarrangement the'plate serves to centralize and support the outer end portion'of the spool while the inner end portion of the spool is supported and centralized by-the blocks engaging the cat head flange 35. a

The retainer'34 is a releasable fastening device serving to drive the spool and to retain the spool in place, as shown throughout the'drawings. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the retainer is a simple pin slidably carried in a guideway 50 provided on the plate 32 and engageable in an opening provided in the outer end portion of the extension 30; The retainer pin 34 has a laterally projecting'handle portion 53 at its outer end by which it can be convenientlymanipulated. The'parts are arranged and proportioned so that when the'handle 53 is turned so-tha't it projects'in a directionparal-lel with the axis of the spool the pin can be moved outward or radially so that it is withdrawn from the opening 5| but when the handle is in position where it lies against the outer'side of plate 32 the pin is in an engaged or in position, asshown in the drawings.

In the form of th'e'invention that I have shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings the spool E has a drum portion-20 end flanges 2| a centeringplate 32= and a retainer'3 l corresponding to the elements hereinabove described. The inner 'end 'portion of the extension 3|] in this form of the invention is supported by a ring 3h attached to flange 35 of the cat head |6 as by welding 3b which ring has a threaded opening 31 The extension 3|) has a threaded portion 38 threaded into the opening 31*. The threaded connection may be tapered as shown in the drawings so as to eliminate the necessity of the shoulder 39 hereinabove described. The'drum zo has a supporting plate 42 substantially the sameasplate-32 and the supporting plate is supported on and centered by the ring 3%, the ring being of sufficient axial extent as at 65 on the drawings to provide the necessary axial support for the plate.

In the form of the invention that I have shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings the spool E has a drum portion-20 a centering plate 32 and a retainer 34 correspondin'g to the element hereinabove described. In this form of the invention the centering plate 32 and the outer end flange 2| are made from a common-jpiece of sheet 'metal or platewhich simplifies -construction'. The flange 2 l at the innerend of thedrum reaches inwardly forming a supporting plate 42' which simplifies construction at the inner end of thedrum as-will be understood from examination of the-drawing. The-supporting plate 42 is supported on and centered by an enlargement cii5 on extension 30'. A

.ring 3| is secured to flange 35 of the cat head the ring-by welding 52-and-a bolt 38' is screw threaded to the ring securing the-extension 3|! to the cat head.

In using the structure the line L isstrung through the blocks 0- andD by any suitable means or following any. suitable method, until such time as-the end of the-dead-end-portion IQ of the-line is accessible or available at the base portion of the-derrick; I then couple the end of the dead end portion IQ of the line L to the powermeans available in the derrick and more specifically to acat head of thedraw works so that 'by-utilizing power available atthe base of the derrick I wind the line into a roll until-the excessline at the dead end portion is fully wound or spooled, whereupon -I fasten or anchor the dead end portion of the line immediately adjacent the spool to a rigid element as for instance to the base of the derrickthrough a suitableclamp 60, or thelike. As shown in Fig. 6 of-the-drawings the wound or spooled'excess portion of the line may then be arranged or stored at --any suitable point either in or outside of the derrick, as circumstances-may indicate.

The excess portion -of-thelineis spooled or wound by -means of-the power taken from the draw works and when wound the spooled line is removed from the draw'works. The spooling -device that I have illustrated facilitates these steps of mymethod. For-instance, I prefer tofirstanchor the end of the dead-end portion I9 of the line L to the spcolE bymeans of the J-bolt 23; and with the spool mounted on the cat head It throughthe mounting means -F above described I rotate the-spool from the-draw works through the 'cat head l6. By driving the spoolfrom the cat'head the excess portion of the line is wound onto the spool and as this operation occurs the line may be drawn through the blocks-as shown in Fig. 1.

With the excess portion of the line fully spooled or woundIremove it from engagement with the power-means; or draw works by releasing the retaining pin 34 whereupon the spool E can be slid axially of the extension 30 disengaging the plate 32 from the extension 30 and the lugs 42 from the flange 35 of the cat head. In Fig. 5 of the drawings I have shown a cat line 62 operating over a sheave 6| at the top of the derrick A which cat line may be fastened to the reel E in any desired manner. The cat line may operate over one of the cat heads of the draw works to lift the reel E from the draw works when disengaged therefrom. It will be apparent from the drawings that slight axial shifting or movement of the spool disengages the spool at both ends, leaving it free so that it can be easily handled.

When the spool has been removed the spool supporting extension can be disengaged from the cat head by unscrewing it from its supporting ring leaving the cat head free of any projecting parts that might interfere with its normal operation. With the spool disengaged from the cat head or from the extension 30 provided on the cat head it can be arranged in any desired positionin or about the derrick, and the portion of the line adjacent the spool can be made fast as by a clamp 60 or other suitable means as shown in Fig. 6. It will be apparent that whenever line is desired, that is, whenever it is necessary or desired to remove excess line from the spool E and put it into active use, the clamp 60 can be released and the desired amount of line withdrawn from the spool, whereupon the clamp may be re-established or reset.

Havin described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A cat head attachment including, a hollow spool to receive a line and having means at its inner end engageable on the flange of the cat head, an extension for the cat head, releasable means mounting the extension on the cat head; to project axially therefrom and centrally through the spool, a part at the outer end portion of the spool seated on the outer end portion of the extension, and means connecting the spool to the extension for driving the spool from the extension.

2. A cat head attachment including, a spool to receive a line and having circumferentially spaced lugs at its inner end engageable on the flange of the cat head, an extension for the cat head, releasable means mounting the extension on the cat head to project axially therefrom, and a part fixed at the outer end portion of the spool seated on the outer end portion of the extension.

3. In combination, a cat head having a flange, a hollow spool; to receive a line and having its inner end engageable on the flange of the cat head, a threaded ring attached to the outer end of the cat head, an extension threaded to the ring to project axially from the cat head, and a part at the outer end portion of the spool slidably receiving the outer end portion of the extension.

4. In combination, a cat head having a flange, a hollow spool; to receive a line and having its inner end engageable on the flange of the cat head, a threaded ring for application to the outer end of the cat head, an extension threaded to the ring to project axially from the cat head, and a part at the outer end portion of the spool slidably receiving the outer end portion of the extension, the extension being substantially smaller in diameter than the cat head.

5. An attachment for a cat head having a flange including, a hollow spool to receive a line and having its inner end engageable on the flange of the cat head, a threaded ring for application to the outer end of the cat head, an extension threaded to the ring to project axially from the cat head, a plate fixed to the outer end portion of the spool slidably receiving the outer end portion of the extension, and releasable fastening means retaining the plate on the extension.

6. An attachment applicable to a cat head having a flange including, a hollow spool to receive a line, circumferentially spaced blocks fixed to the spool at the inner end thereof and having faces bearing axially against the flange and faces bearing radially against the flange, an extension for the cat head, releasable means mounting the extension on the cat head to project axially therefrom and centrally through the spool, a part at the outer end portion of the spool seated on the outer end portion of the extension, and means connecting the spool to the extension for driving the spool from the extension.

7. An attachment applicable to a cat head having a flange including, an extension for the cat head, releasable means mounting the extension rigidly on the cat head to project axially therefrom, a hollow spool to receive a line, elements in the spool at each end thereof supporting the spool concentrically with the cat head and extension, one of said elements engaging the flange and the other engaging the extension, and means coupling one of said elements to the part engaged thereby for rotation of the spool with the cat head and extension.

GERALD R. HUNT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 715,338 Baechtold et a1. Dec. 9, 1902 833,462 Johnston Oct. 16, 1906 1,486,375 Barney Nov. 21, 1922 1,609,743 Traugott Dec. 7, 1926 1,784,311 Perry Dec. 9, 1930 1,845,171 Mendenhall Feb. 16, 1932 2,247,498 Hunt July 1, 1941 2,391,939 Bannister Jan. 1, 1946 2,478,615 Zeilman Aug. 9. 1949 

